THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 October 1926, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT.

THE INVITATIONS. At last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council the Afayor referred to the visit to Timaru of’Their Excellencies Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson, and said he was sure that no Governor, or Governor-General and his wife had ever been more sincere in their efforts to enter into the lives of the people and do what they could to promote tho comfort and happiness of all classes. (Hear, hear.) Councillor Vinnell said he thought it a pity that no official invitation had been sent to organised Labour to attend the social to His Excellency the Governor-General. He did not think the omission had been intentional, but it was a pity it had occurred.

Councillor Benstead said that he was somewhat disappointed with the list of invitations, as published in the newspapers, seeing that It came from the Mayor and Borough Council. There were some strange inconsistencies in the list. Tho president of the Jockey Club had been invited. Why not the president of tlie Baxmg Association? The president of the Rugby Union had been invited. Why not the president of the Association Club? The president of the Ladies’ Club had been invited. Why not the president of the Gentlemen's Club? The president of the South Canterbury Cricket Association had been invited. AVhy not the president of the Tennis Association? And eq an. The'Mayor said that nearly everyone Councillor Benstead had mentioned had been invited.

Councillor Benstead said that lie had only the published list to go by. Certain school teachers had been invited, but chairmen of school committees who gave their time for nothing, were left out. It seemed to him that an official list should he adhered to, or that there should be no list at all. It was unfortunate that the editor of the “Post” should have been invited, and not the editor of the “Herald.” Councillor Hay said that he had some knowledge of the task the Mayor had set himself in issuing the list of invitations, and he was satisfied that if any Councillor had attempted the task, he would have made more omissions than the Mayor. It was almost impossible to draw up a list which would give complete satisfaction, and he hoped that those who had been unintentionally overlooked would understand the position. Councillor Satterthwaite said that a gentleman who had attended the social evening in question had told him that he was proud of the way the Mayor and Mayoress of Timaru had risen to the occasion; and he had added that the evening was an unqualified success. Councillor Hunt said it was a pity the “Herald” had been overlooked, seeing that the “Post” had been invited.

The Town Clerk said the fault was entirely liis. The name of the editor of the “Timaru Herald” had been on the list, but it had inadvertently been crossed out. It was marked “stet” (meaning that it should not be omitted), but the clerk who had copied out the list, not understanding the meaning of “etet,” had omitted to include this name in the list sent out. The Town Clerk said that he was solely to blame, and had explained the position to the editor of the “Herald.”

The Mayor said that the special desire of Their Excellencies was to meet as many Timaru people as possible, and as he (the speaker) desired to see as many as possible at the social, he had inserted an advertisement four times in the newspapers, inviting tlie general public to attend, and in order to make sure that a reasonable number would be present lie had also sent special invitations to a number of people, but it was open to all who desired to attend, to do so.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” Sir, —A careful examination of the list of invitations sent out by the municipal authorities in connection with the recent function in the Bay Hall, discloses some queer anomidies, and is apt to lead one to wonder as to the why and wherefor. While organisations—comparatively new and unimportant numerically—-such as the Women Citizens’ Association, the Ladies’ Club, Real Estate Institute, and Art Society were included, longestablished and numerically strong organisations such as our Friendly Societies, the Labour Party, the Waterside. Workers’ Union, and Workers’ Educational Association wore overlooked. At first sight the explanation would appear to be “class distinction,” but that scarcely holds when one notices that the Chief Postmaster, and tho Editor of “The Timaru Herald” are also amongst those overlooked. It is surely not too much to ask that a public body should exercise more care in such an important matter. A really satisfactory and official explanation would he appreciated, and is, I feel sure, eagerly awaited by a large section of vour readers.—l am. etc., AD VALOREM.